Stay In Perfect Peace

It seems like everywhere we look these days something else is taking our attention. We have been battling a pandemic for quite some time and it shows no signs of going anywhere any time soon. Political events are happening and earthquakes and persecutions are taking place in other countries. We also deal with our own personal stuff - unruly children, rocky marriages, divorce, health issues and death. This alone is enough to rock us to our core. And when it does, what next? When we’re gripped with fear, anxiety and panic, where do we turn?

 God knew the trials we would go through and the sorrows that would be in the world. After all, He has the bird's eye view. We only see day to day, minute by minute. We panic and are fearful but when Jesus left this earth, He left us something He knew we would need - His peace. 

 

I have personally felt all of this. In the past, and more recently, my heart has been so heavy and nearly grieved with all that has been going on in the world. Sometimes I find myself so consumed, I get caught up in the whirlwind of it all and I literally don’t know where to turn. Have you ever seen someone going through it? Their world, from the outside looking in, is completely crumbling. We would expect or assume that person would be crumbling as well. Instead they are shining bright, joyful, and still finding a way to encourage those around them. That is a peace only the Lord can give. That is standing in the middle of a storm and not being shaken. That is a knowledge that, because God reigns, there is hope. That is knowing even though my doctor’s report comes back negative, God is the great Physician and He has the final say. God has overcome all of that. He has overcome the world!

 

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” -John 16:33 (NLT)

What a sweet reminder! That when we go through trials or see that we live in a broken world, we have the peace of God accessible to us. 

 

We are not alone in our struggles and sorrows; God is with us. He told us that in Deuteronomy 31:8. “He will be with us, never leaving us nor abandoning us.” That verse alone is enough to make me stay in peace. The good news is that peace is available to us all. When we accept Jesus to come into our lives, the Holy Spirit is deposited into us, and with the Spirit, comes peace. It's a matter of whether I am going to let this situation take me out or I am going to stay in perfect peace. 

 

There is, and will always be, brokenness around us but I pray you rest in the peace of God. There is a song by Hillsong Young and Free called “Peace” and my favorite verse in the whole song says, “My anxiety bows in the presence of Jesus, the keeper of Peace.” Remember that. The fear, worry, anxiety and uneasiness we feel in the middle of the storm and all that goes on in our lives bows in the presence of Jesus. Bring Jesus into your situations and stay in perfect peace. 

 

Vanessa Ausbie

Staff at Koinonia Church

Joseph Style

 There are moments in life when you feel like you are in the pits. I’m not sure what it takes for you to get there but, a lot of the time, it’s unsuspected things that make me feel down, disregarded, or just generally questioning all the things. Like, when a good friend or close family member moves away. Or when faced with something at work that I feel unqualified for or I simply don’t enjoy doing. When I get into a disagreement with my husband, realizing later that I was the reason that issue was so complicated to begin with, into the pit I go! But I tell you, nothing gets me feeling low like the fruit of unforgiveness. 

 

There have been several expanses of time when it didn’t take much effort to hold a grudge. I’ve held onto offense for things that in my earthly mind, seemed worthy. I must admit I’ve held onto offense for things that, in hindsight, now that the heat is turned back down, I find pretty silly. I sometimes find myself mad because someone else is mad at me! They didn’t do anything, but the sheer presence of their emotion results in a feeling of distrust, or frustration, or the need to either fight or separate. 

 

Today, I woke up and imagined Joseph, the one with the coat of many colors, down in the pit. He didn’t find himself in a pit of despair, frustration, or just regular blues. He found himself in a literal hole in the ground. He was dropped down into the earth and literally left to die by his brothers. His. Own. Brothers. What in the world?! I can’t imagine what would be going through his mind. He was probably terrified. He was probably rethinking sharing and trusting them with his dream. He was probably kicking himself for his lack of humility. He was probably super offended. Then, after who knows how long in the pit, the story found in Genesis 37 tells us that the brothers return! What a feeling of relief he must have felt! “Praise the Lord, I’ll get a second chance, and we can make all these issues go away.” But no. They didn’t come to rescue him or reconcile with him. They came to sell him into slavery. Now they were profiting off of his suffering. The ride in that caravan must have housed some complicated thoughts. 

 

The rest of the story is moment after moment of being in the pit. From a moment appearing to be a reprieve, back into the pit. With God’s obvious hand guiding him along the way, he ends up saving the day for an entire generation, keeping more than an entire nation from starving during a drought. An incredible miracle of God’s goodness happens when he runs into his brothers again, asking for help. They don’t recognize him, they believe him to be long gone, probably dead. He has this moment when all of the moments preceding can manifest themselves in revenge or, at least, a simple rejection. That would make sense. That seems perfectly justified. They literally dropped him into a hole out of jealousy. He could at least deny their request for help. He could even toss them into prison and that would seem right according to my mind’s eye. But he doesn’t. He forgives. Not only does he forgive them, but he restores their relationship. 

 

I want to do things Joseph style, which ultimately is Jesus’ style. When I am low, because of someone else, I want to allow the grace of God FOR me, to result in grace FROM me to them. So, who is your “them.”  Who has frustrated or offended you lately and you still feel it? Who, metaphorically, put you into a pit with their different opinions, their broken behavior, or their response to you? Let’s live Joseph style and decide to love them anyway. Let’s decide to make sure they are good. Let’s make sure they have what they need. Let’s make sure they experience grace and love through us!

 

Candace Cortez

Executive Pastor

Can I Trust The Bible?

As you begin to read scripture, you realize that there are some stories that are hard to believe. I

have a hard time believing a man lived in the belly of a fish for three days or that men walked in

a fiery furnace and lived. These types of stories begin to stir up questions, and even doubt, at

times. There isn’t enough space in this article to convince you that those individual stories are

true or not. 

We have to remember that the Bible is not only a book, but a library of books. It contains 66

different books, with over 27 authors, written over thousands of years. To try to filter this miracle

through our 21 st -century understanding would make a lot of things in the Bible seem weird and

unbelievable. However, we can’t use that as a cop out to not look at it critically. I believe it’s

important to be critical with things that claim something of high importance. How else would we

gain confidence? It’s important that we are confident in the Bible because it is the main resource most people use to develop their faith in God.  

I want to present the way we should go about the criticism. I believe the most important question

and approach to the validity of scripture isn’t whether or not a guy lived in the belly of a fish or

that one of the stories you read confused you. The most important approach is to pick at the

man that the entire library points to - Jesus.  

In my mind, a healthy approach to criticism of the Bible is this: if I can trust the writings about

Jesus, the Gospels, then the rest of scripture is easier to believe.

I believe if we can trust that Jesus said what He said and claimed what He claimed, all the rest of the Bible can be trusted. Because, if I’m ever in doubt, I will just trust the guy that rose from the dead.

The Gospels are accounts written by four different men telling the story about Jesus (Matthew,

Mark, Luke, John). All different in style but all give a detailed account of His life and ministry.

When it comes to proving whether or not history is true, we have to approach it as historians

approach it. So, how do historians approach criticism when it comes to ancient writings?

One main metric used is the distance between the date the book was composed and the

earliest manuscript (copy) we have in our possession. The less time between the original and

the copy, the less likely the original story had been tampered with. It’s important to note that we

measure history differently than we measure science. The main formula in science is to observe

and repeat. And once it has been observed and repeated enough times you can prove it as fact.

Well, there is no way to observe or repeat history unless we have a time machine. That’s why

historians have to approach history the same way the court does. It’s not a matter of possibility

but a matter of probability. Or, as a lawyer would say when proving their case, what is the

probable cause?

Just as in a court, all we can do from a historical standpoint is gather the evidence and begin to

present what probably happened. So, that’s why we can trust certain history books we read in

school. Historians that have gathered enough evidence from enough people to say the likelihood of this story happening the way they said it did is very likely. 

When it comes to the timespan metric, between original copy and first manuscript (copy), the gospels blow a lot of accepted history books out of the water. For example, The Iliad, written by Homer, is a history book we read in school. The span of time between the original and the first copy we have is around 900 years. Compare that to the Gospels (life of Jesus) in the New Testament, the span of time between the original and the first copy we have is 50 years.  

When compared to other ancient works of literature, the existing manuscripts of the New

Testament documents in today’s museums date back further, are of higher quality, and exist in

much greater numbers, than a lot of history we read about in our education system. 

In conclusion, historically speaking, the Gospels are one of the most trustworthy history books

we have. There are no archaeological discrepancies when it comes to the accounts given in the

Gospels. That means when the scriptures talk about a person, place, or thing, it’s supported not

just by the Bible but by other historical books as well.     

At the end of the day, the Gospels can be proven reliable which means the probability of what

Jesus said to be true is high. So, you can trust the rest of the Bible because you can trust the

story, life, and words of Jesus.      

Chad Fagundes Mens’ and Outreach Pastor

People We Need

In the Bible, there is a story of a man named Paul. He was called to be a great man, traveling the world and doing the work of God. Through that, he eternally changed the life of people. He needed different people to be successful in his calling.  He gave us a model to help us have a greater chance of success, by understanding those who we want to be in our lives.

People Fill Us

Paul spent years studying and being taught before he ever made his way into the world to
speak to others about Jesus. Even as he went, there were always people speaking into his life.
If you want to be successful, you need to continue to be a student and continue to be filled up. In today’s world, with books and documentaries, YouTube and podcasts, or even just conversations, there is no reason to stop learning and be poured into. It’s not always fun being the student, but it is always profitable if we are open to change.

People to Stand By

When Paul began traveling throughout the Mediterranean, he knew help was needed. It was key to have someone who could share the load of work. First, he employed a man named Barnabas. He was a great friend and leader. Later he traveled with Silas, a man of integrity and faith. These friends were not people who always agreed with him. They were men who would encourage, challenge, and stand by him through it all. We need someone to walk through our journey with us, good or bad. Identifying this person can sometimes be tough, but make sure you do not settle; contend for the right person. This person could impact your life or your future. Surround yourself with Godly people.

People to Impart To

Someone is always watching you. Does that sound too weird? It’s true whether it’s your
own kids or kids on the street, they are watching. Even your friends or people older than you,
are watching. They want to judge you and I don’t blame them. We watch people to see what they have to offer. Paul knew this, so he leaned into it. Paul was always thinking about the legacy of what he was doing. He was always trying to invest in someone else. Maybe he was just trying to give back. That’s noble but that’s not enough. We don’t just do things because we owe something. He knew that this world needed more than himself. Paul found a young man named Timothy and helped coach and mentor him into a person that could contribute in all the ways the world would need. Paul did tell Timothy what was needed, but maybe even more than that, he showed him how to live as a man of integrity.

In this world we need to make sure there are people to fill us with inspiration and knowledge to keep us moving. We need someone to stand by us, and work with us to accomplish our goal. Finally, we need to always be aware that we are pouring into others. Whether intentionally or not, you are always imparting something to others.

Rene Solis is Director of Koinonia School of Ministry. He can be reached at ksm@kcfchurch.org or by calling 559-582-1528. 

Authority in Christ

Who are you? We usually answer that question with our name. Then comes the next question, “Who are you, really?” You might respond with, “What do you mean?” 

What I’m trying to get at here is, as Christians, our identity is intimately intertwined with Christ. When we are spending time with Him in prayer and scripture study, we get to know Him more and more and we become more like Him (Ephesians 4:22-24). The next step in our identify in Christ is our authority as believers. We have been given power through the Holy Spirit that I’m pretty sure that many of us don’t tap into on most days. I have seen people adrift on the waves of their daily challenges and they don’t realize that they have the power and authority to overcome.

In the Gospels, Peter had an experience with this in Matthew 14:28-32. He saw Jesus walking on the water in the middle of a storm and said…

“Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him.”

For a few moments, Peter walked in the authority of Christ because he believed that he could walk on water. Then, he got distracted. The wind and waves were ferocious and, even though Peter was a fisherman, he might not have known how to swim!

Some might say that Peter failed because he let fear confuse his faith. I like to think that Peter learned a very important lesson that day and the story has taught us a lesson ever since. 

Acknowledging your authority in Christ requires focus on Jesus. When you’re focused on Him you can accomplish anything (Philippians 4:13).

You have a special authority

What is authority? It is delegated. Jesus has given you the authority to accomplish things in his name. In Acts 3:1-8, Peter and John encountered a lame man and said, “In the name of Jesus, rise up and walk.” It wasn’t their own power that caused the man to walk again. It was the authority given them through Jesus.

You have strength

You can stand against Satan and all his strategies against you! (Ephesians 6:11) When you put on the armor of God, you step into the authority you’ve been given. You can withstand whatever the enemy would try to throw at you!

You have wisdom

1 Corinthians 1:24 says, “But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.” You will be given wisdom along with authority in Christ. As a result, you will be able to have discernment and know through the Holy Spirit, what God is calling you to do in every circumstance.

When I was first studying the Bible, I highlighted passages using multicolored highlighters. For instance, purple indicated God’s divinity and holiness, yellow was for the Holy Spirit, pink was for God’s love, and I used green to highlight passages that required some action on my part. After I’d studied the bible for a few years, I was surprised by how much I’d highlighted in green (action)! 

We know that our salvation is a gift that we can’t achieve for ourselves; it comes from God through Jesus. But there are certain actions we must take as believers. The first of those actions is to acknowledge our sinful nature, repent and ask Jesus to save us! The next actions we must take are to read scripture and let God teach us and transform us. Then he will send us out to share the Gospel and walk in the authority of Jesus Christ!

Paula Aiton is a member of Koinonia Church and a freelance writer, musician and artist. Her blog, God’s Glory Girl, can be found at godsglorygirl.com

The Hill I'm Willing To Die On

I love old sayings. I love to say them when they apply to a particular situation. Some of my favorites are:

• There are no atheists in foxholes.

• Actions speak louder than words.

• Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

• Idle hands are the devil’s workshop.

• A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

• Don’t borrow trouble.

But the one I use the most is . . . “Is this the hill I’m willing to die on?” I ask myself this question whether I am having a conversation with my kids or am part of a controversial discussion. And let’s face it – there are a lot of those happening lately. Basically, it means is this where I am going to take a stand no matter who it hurts or separates me from. It means that I will literally die for this. I can only think of a few things that are that important to me – family, country, God.

As I see public debate and upheaval rearing its ugly head again, I knew that I needed to do some work to remind myself of my identity in Christ. Why, you may ask? Because I am human, with strong beliefs and opinions of my own. If I am not careful, my humanness will leak out and spill all over the place in ‘not so pretty’ ways. I need to make sure that I am, first and foremost, reflecting Jesus in my life.

I prayed. Then, I Googled (my favorite Bible search tool) verses that reminded me of who I truly am and how that identity should determine my thoughts, words and actions. From there, I kept being drawn to several verses in Colossians, chapter 3. I abandoned my search and went to biblegateway.com and looked at several different Bible translations of that chapter in Colossians. It was just what I needed to read and the reminder I needed of who I am. So, since I was leading our church staff devotions the next day, that is what we all spent time doing – reading Colossians 3 and reminding ourselves of who we are and Who we represent in all situations.  

The next day, while driving and listening to a Christian radio talk show, a pastor began talking about 1 Peter 4 which teaches about prayer, love and gifts of grace. From years of experience, I know that this is how the Holy Spirit works. He guides me and directs me and gives me just what I need in the moment. It is not in just a single way but in a series of ways that helps me connect the dots and see that He is speaking directly to me. This is something that eluded me for years as a new Christian . . . how a two-way relationship with God happens! To me, this is where Christianity gets very exciting! 

1 Peter 4 gave me more reminders of how to think, speak and behave. I was particularly drawn to the humbling verse that states, “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” (verse 4:8 ESV) 

There it was! “Cover” one another. Don’t judge or condemn. Instead, forgive and forebear; give grace where and when it is undeserved. Even if you are right. This is how I am to represent The One who doesn’t judge nor condemn me. This is how I am to emulate Jesus, who forgives and is patient with me. This is how I can share in His work of giving grace generously to those who don’t deserve it – just like me.

So, I will remind myself, again and again, that the issues of today are not the hills I am willing to die on because Jesus died on a hill for my shortcomings and sin. 

Sylvia Gaston
Family Ministry Pastor

Contentment

I do all of the general maintenance on our vehicles. I wouldn’t say I’m a car guy, but over the years I’ve learned a few things. For example, I learned to no longer buy blinker fluid.

 

My first car was a 1997 VW Jetta. It was old, not everything worked, and the paint was chipping in certain areas, but – and this is the most important part – it was mine. It was on this car that I learned how to do general maintenance. I still miss that white, 5-speed stick shift clunk of German engineering to this day. I had friends and family at the time who had newer cars that had functional AC and all of their hubcaps, but I was content with my car. I would even say I was happy! 

 

Content simply means “in a state of peaceful happiness”. Contentment is something that we really don’t see nowadays. There’s always the new phone, the new TV, the new and improved blender, the cars that park themselves, and so many other gadgets and gizmos that are constantly grabbing our attention. It’s no wonder that the Bible has something to say on this matter:

 

“A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.” -Proverbs 14:30 ESV

 

I understand that this may seem like an odd verse, especially with our “always stay hungry” and “never be satisfied” culture. Don’t get me wrong, I do admire that ambition, but there’s something to be said about taking a moment to pause, reflect, and be satisfied with where you are and the work that you’ve accomplished. If we’re to follow God‘s example, on the seventh day of creation, He rested! Not because He needed to rest, but maybe He was trying to show us an example of resting, of taking inventory of our lives, looking at the work of our hands, and taking time for appreciation. 

 

I used to always want the newest gadget, the shiniest toy, or the latest feature on the newest phones. But the problem with stuff is that there’s always new stuff coming out. It’s foolish to think that we can try to keep up with the latest trends, fashions, or with the Joneses. Yet, we continue to do so, rarely taking the time to appreciate what God has taken us through and where He’s placed us. 

 

Being content doesn’t only have to deal with things. How many of us are telling ourselves, “I’ll be happy as soon as I get that job”, or something similar? Being content is also finding peace where you currently are. Your happiness is not defined by a future action, you can find joy where you are today. Don’t believe me? Read Psalms 23.

 

Ask yourself, are you content where you are? Or with what you have? God has shown me at a very young age that seasons come and go, that everything can change in one instant. It’s for this reason that I thank Him every day for where I am, fully acknowledging that it’s His will and timing. Since God has placed me in my position, I will not envy the work of others, but I will be content and effective where I am.

 

I encourage you to take a moment to pause, reflect on what God has brought you through, ask for His peace for your current situation, and trust that a new season is soon approaching.

 

Mauricio Paredes

Youth Pastor